(Newser)
–
Authorities say they've found some sign of the 2-year-old boy who disappeared in Tennessee a week ago while walking with his grandmother and sister. "We have some leads that we have recovered" in the woods behind his grandparents' home, Madison County Sheriff John Mehr said Wednesday, per the Jackson Sun. He wouldn't say what evidence was found, but he believes Noah Chamberlin is nearby. The search for the toddler was to continue Wednesday evening, but it will go on without volunteers due to severe weather. "It's dangerous out there. In those hills, it's really muddy, and it's frozen overnight," a fire chief says. "It's just so slick you can hardly walk through there." The Sun reports there are also large sinkholes in the search area. But "we're not going to stop," another sheriff says. "We still believe he's out there."

The search area now includes some 1,000 acres in Pinson. "We've expanded further out, and brought them back into the center area and rechecked the whole area," the fire chief says, though the search could slow in the coming days. "With the weather that's coming in, supposedly, by Friday, we'll have to scale back the search," says Mehr, noting some equipment may be needed to respond to dangerous winter storm conditions. Mehr also shot down an apparent rumor that Noah's family was involved in his disappearance; Tucson News Now reports Noah's father was previously in trouble for drugs. "We have thoroughly vetted all of that," Mehr said. The family are "good citizens." A pastor who spoke with the family told Fox13 that "they're still very hopeful, still very faithful, they believe Noah is going to be found."